The Mist (R)

Frank Darabont and Stephen King have had a relationship for years now. First Darabont adapted Stephen King’s The Shawshank Redemption. The film raked in so much (well deserved) critical praise that they thought they would team up again for The Green Mile. The film didn’t garnish as much love as the previous film, but it had its moments. Now, with The Mist, Darabont takes on putting up on the big screen a story that represents what the bulk of Stephin King’s  career has been devoted to: horror.

The Mist centers around David Drayton, a comic book artist. David is a loving husband and father. After a terrible storm, the family–his wife and only son–wake to find their small town ripped to shreds by the winds. Off in the distance, slowly creeping across the service of their lake, is a menacing fog. “Strange.” David’s wife says. “Fog never appears on the lake.” Leaving the wife at home, David takes his son into to town to get some supplies. But while they are shopping, the fog envelops the whole town. A man comes in screaming, saying that there’s “something in the mist”. And thus, the horror begins.

What follows is both a relentless fright-fest, as well as a statement on mob mentality and moral ambiguity.

The cast proves to be very strong, the most famous actor here being Thomas Jane from The Punisher. Everyone is convincing not only as victims, but as people, now terrified of the town they once knew like the back of their hand, now shrouded in the unknown.

The only problem with the film is Darabont’s ending. I refuse to give anything away, but the shocking,  fatalistic and ultimately hopeless finale may leave some with a bad taste in their mouth, but the ride along the way still warrants repeated viewings.

Rango (PG)

In 2009, we saw the visually arresting and highly emotional story of  Up. In 2010, we were treated with the visually arresting and equally emotional story of How To Train Your Dragon. Now, in 2011, we are treated with the visually stunning, not so emotional, but utterly bizarre Rango.

The trailers for the movie point out that–besides having Johnny Depp in it–it’s from the director of Pirates of The Caribbean, also starring Depp. But be warned. Fans of Pirates will have very little to love about this film. They are nothing alike, and is in a completley different universe and has a completley different sense of humor. However, fans of Johnny Depp will fit right in and will love the almost incoherent babble that seems to constantly flow from Rango’s mouth.

Rango(the character) is a lonely, terrarium dwelling lizard who, upon being ejected from the back of a car via collision, is left both thirsty and lonely. After a few bizarre occurences in the desert, lands himself in the drought-stricken town of “Dirt”. For the writer to have the gawl to actually name a desert town “Dirt” pretty much gives you an idea of what’s to come. Rango decides to re-create himself as a cold-blooded killer, landing him the role of Sheriff.

And off we go into the world of Rango. Greedy mayors, a beautifully animated desert and town, and oh, I forgot to mention, there are Gatling Gun sporting Bats, dynamite throwing moles, and a rattlesnake with a machine gun for a rattle. And so, the weirdness goes on. But luckily, the weirdness is surprisingly easy to swallow, given how amazing everything looks. The tiniest details are rarely left unnoticed, completley immersing the audience in the world of Rango.

I would feel bad slobbering all over the film without mentioning the one aspect I didn’t enjoy. The dialogue in the film is…interesting to say the least. For example, in one scene the film is jaw-dropingly intelligent and witty (think Alan Sorkin), while moments later just mentioning the word “poop” or “pee” is expected to get a laugh. This is easily forgotten and half-forgiven by the cinematography and visual design, but it’s something that needs mentioning.

I for one would never call Rango a “kids” movie, just like you wouldn’t call the two films I mentioned at the beginning “kids” movies. Not because of the small amount of adult content, but because Rango is so flat out weird. It’s a movie for literally anyone who just wants to be entertained, whether it’s a 9-year-old who wants to see pretty colors, hear poop jokes and gunfire, or the 9-year-old’s father who will be charmed by the films odd ability to point to older movies in the genre without being obvious.

Hans Zimmer’s score is also a great tribute to the spaghetti westerns that the film is so excited to reference at every turn.
{SEE IT}

Brick (R)

Done on a hair-thin budget over the span of two weeks, Brick is an amazing work in story-telling as well as a great throwback to classic film Noir. Joseph Gordon Levitt plays a heartbroken teen who, after finding his ex-girlfriend dead, goes in search of finding what happened. Rian Johnson’s debut film is very clever, but some people may find it a bit too clever for their liking, due to the very confusing top-hat detective lingo. I recommend watching Brick with the subtitles on, to get the full effect.

Surprisingly strong acting from even the most minor characters only add to the cleverness, and the tongue-in-cheek-ness of the adult story happening inside a high school is either painfully silly or stylish and unique. Brick is the most hate-it or love-it movie I’ve seen. But those who love Brick keep it close at hand and watch it regularly. Definitely an acquired taste.

An amusing score by Nathan Johnson that compliments the films quirkiness  is the icing on the cake.

A post script: do not take the absurd R rating seriously. This movie is completely without inappropriate content. I’ve even researched why it got an R rating and no one seems to know.

{SEE IT}



Let Me In (R)

My favorite movie of 2010, Let Me In boasts some of the strongest acting by two children I’ve seen in a long time. Chloe Grace Moretz (Of Kick @#!*% fame) and Kodi Smit Mcphee (Of The Road fame) deliver their strongest performances yet.

Let Me In is a remake of Let The Right One In, a Swedish film that came out in 2008. After its limited release, the film developed a cult following, with one of its followers being the director of Let Me In, Matt Reeves. Matt Reeves’ previous film, Cloverfield, got much critical praise for its documentary style filmaking.When the avid fans of it’s Swedish predecessor heard that Matt Reeves was directing, they had an odd fear that he would use the same tactics and style in Let Me In. They couldn’t be more wrong. Let Me In is a subtle yet terrifying take on the classic bloodsucker genre. One the best, if not the best vampire film I’ve ever seen.

After seeing both the Swedish and American version of the story (originally a book by John Ajvide Lindqvist), I believe that Let Me In is the best choice for someone torn between the two. Kodi Smit Mcphee plays Owen, a depressed boy who is mercilessly bullied at school. Without friends (or a father), Owen spends his evenings stabbing trees with a pocket knife, pretending to kill his bullies. On one of these evenings, he meets a barefooted girl.  Moretz plays a sweet (though mysterious) young girl named Abbey who moves in next door in the large apartment complex. Owen soon learns that his new friend is actually vampire, in need of blood. From there, the story is one of love, vengeance, faith, and fear, all wrapped up in a bleak world where hope is scarce. Richard Jenkins (of The Visitor) plays Abbey’s slave/guardian who must go out and get blood for her.

Despite the films bleak, dreary, sad atmosphere, Let Me In provides a sense of horror rarely found. One that has more frightening implications than it does jump scenes or big scares. It aims to make you think, and succeeds with flying colors, mostly red.

Not for the squeamish.

{SEE IT}

District 9 (R)

Neill Blomkamp’s debut film is both an action thrill ride and pseudo-documentary. Blomkamp was originally recruited to directing the (Nerds rejoice!) Halo movie adaptation, which explains why the weapons in District 9 look so darn familiar. They made the props for Halo before shooting began, and before they realized they couldn’t make Halo yet due to budget issues. What we have instead is a well directed and well imagined story.

Set in Johannesburg, Africa, District 9 intruduces us to a world where a massive alien space ship came twenty years earlier. Unfortunatley, it was more of a crash landing, and the ship has been hovering over the city ever since. Upon entry of the ship, the government found malnourished alien life forms inside the ship. Removing the aliens from their mother-ship, they brought them to earth, sanctioning them in small shacks and huts until they can leave.

What follows is a compelling-though very bizarre–journey of one man’s desire to finally do good. Older audiences might notice the obvious underline of the Apartheid that took place in Africa many years ago. Blomkamp was actually born into the world of Apartheid, and wanted to make a movie about it ever since.

If you can take the weird premise seriously, District 9 offers up a thought provoking message of redemption while delivering the goods of an alien-laden action movie.

{SEE IT}

Faster (R)

Hmm. What to say about a movie like Faster besides that it’s exactly what it should be. I doubt that Faster was looking for any Oscar or Golden Globe buzz. Dwayne the Rock Johnson gets into his type-casting boots again as an angry, muscly man being released from prison. No names are given for any of the main characters. Johnson is just “Driver”, Billy Bob Thorton is “Cop”, etc. For the first time in his career, Billy Bob Thorton seems like he’s phoning it in a little here.

The quick-paced direction and adrenaline fueled violence was probably an attempt at originality, but it comes off like a straight to DVD ripoff of Kill Bill or Crank. Not to say it’s a total rip off. It’s a solid action movie. Dwayne does his thing as he seeks revenge for the death of his brother. Four men were responsible for his death, and Driver makes a list of all of them before setting out on his vicious adventure. The originality wears off after nothing really original happens. But, if you’re bored on a Friday night and want to watch something entertaining, pick it up.

Rent It